Deal With It

Lakewood Church

Deal With It
Pastor Joel!

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

1. Suffer through being uncomfortable and/or not getting your way so you can strengthen your character.

• Starve the flesh and feed the spirit.

• The pain of discipline is temporary, the pain of compromise is permanent. (my destiny is worth that much)

2. Be sensitive to God's voice.

• Genesis 20:6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the INTEGRITY OF THINE HEART; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

3. Do what you can in the natural so God can do the supernatural.

• With every step of obedience a blessing comes.

• Abraham and Isaac: It isn't natural for rams to climb that high.

4. When you don't deal with it, you may not reach your destiny.

• Sampson

• Saul

• Gehazi: 2 Kings 5:20-27 He was in line to receive a double portion and ended with Leprosy

• Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

5. Humble yourself and don't settle for partial victory.

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

iPray Conference 2012

@LakewoodChurch

"Between Two Laughs"
Christine Caine

1. Stir up a passion for prayer.

• Sometimes you can live vicariously through someone else's prayer life.

• You do what you want to when you have passion.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the lord builds the house,the builders labor in vain.Unless the lord watches over the city,the guards stand watch in vain.

Hebrews 11:11 And by faith even Sarah, who was PAST the childbearing AGE, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

• God's promises are eternal.

• God cares about the details of my life.

• It took Sarah 25 years to receive the promise. Sarah laughed when God made the promise and it took her that long to strengthen the womb of her faith.

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

• God doesn't work in due dates, he works in due seasons.

Galatians 6:14 Is anything too hard for the lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

• Sometimes we rely on the circumstances and not God.

• Prayer is one way to ensure that we rely on him.

James 4:2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

Genesis 16: Ishmael

• When we take things into our own hands we do crazy things that will give birth to an Ishmael.

Matthew 11: 28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

• When things get hard it's because I'm trying to do things in my own power.

2. God doesn't do things the way we would.

Isiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,"declares the lord.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER that is at work within us,

POWER PLAYS

Carla Harris

"Carla's Pearls"

Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

1. Perception is the copilot to reality. What lens is the organization looking through when they are looking at me. I can train people to think about me the way I want them to think about me.

• Pick 3 adjectives that I want people to use to describe me when I'm not in the room. They must be valued in my "organization". They must be associated with success for the seat that I'm sitting in or aspire to be seated in.

• Innovative, Resourceful, Efficient...

• Be authentic: If I can't be myself, then it's not the right place.

• Be consistent.

• Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

• Fear has no place in my success equation.

2. Advisor, Mentor, & Sponsor Relationships

• Advisor: You can ask discrete questions.

• Mentor: Share the good, the bad, and the ugly. Someone you trust. If you don't know the person well, he can't be your mentor. This person gives you tailored advice they you can execute toward success.

• Sponsor: The person you tell the good, the good, and the good. This person will argue passionately on my behalf. The sponsor must be in your organization. *People who can open access to funding and new clients.

° Get Data: If I don't know, then I can't fix it.

° When you can tap into someone's need to be needed, and they are helping you then you can recruit them to your success team.

3. Be comfortable taking risks.

• It's either a blessing or a lesson. What is a lesson today is leverage tomorrow. Failure always brings you a gift, and that's experience.

THREE QUESTIONS TO EVALUATE A RISK

• Will the new thing give me skills and experience?

• …create new branches on my decision tree?

• …create new relationship?

4. Authenticity

• Don't submerge that which is uniquely me.

• Bring all the Jeanicia's to the table.

• That includes my Christianity

5. Expect That I Will Do Well

• I have everything that I need.

TOOLBOX

• Spiritual Word

• Academic Background

• Experiential Background

• Network (Don't be afraid to ask for help.)

6. Most precious pearls.

• I can do anything through Christ who stengthens me. Phil 4:13

• No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Is 54:17

• Psalm 91

What does success look like in our family?

You constrain growth if it's all about "you".

THE POWER COUPLE
Clayton and Ashlee Hurst
"Building Strong Marriages and Families"

1. Wisdom

• Pray for wisdom.

• Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as an action. (I need insight)

• Seek mentors.

SCRUPTURE
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Proverbs 2:6 For the lord gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Daniel 2:22 He reveals deep and hidden things;he knows what lies in darkness,and light dwells with him.

• We were created to please God and it is impossible to please God without faith.

MARRIAGE:

FAMILY: Pray for an abundance of wisdom at EACH stage.

2. Authentic/Integrity:

SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 2:7 He holds success in store for the upright,he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, "The lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him."

MARRIAGE: Be the same wherever you are.

FAMILY:

3. Modeling

SCRIPURE
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

MARRIAGE:

FAMILY: Learing scriptures. It's never too late. Take advantage of drive time.

4. Communication

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 119:33 Teach me, lord, the way of your decrees,that I may follow it to the end.

MARRIAGE: Effective communication impacts everything.

FAMILY:

-- Follow me on twitter @TheJRochelle

Hitting the Delete Button

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel!

• Just like a virus can slow down a perfectly good computer so can negative thoughts slow down a perfectly good believer.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Words are like seeds, if we dwell on them too long they will take root and develop a stronghold.

• Take inventory on my thought life and determine whether or not it lines up with God's word.

Genesis 3:11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

• God wanted to know who told them that something was wrong with them.

• No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me,the lord will receive me.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart."

• Sometimes God will drop something in your spirit that doesn't seem "logical".

• People who knew how to hit the delete button:
Emmitt Smith, Dr. Seuss, Pastor Joel, Fred Smith, Dannel Malloy

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Bold Prayers

Lakewood Church
Pastor Joel!


Matthew 9:29 ..."According to your faith let it be done to you"...

Psalm 81:10 ...Open wide your mouth and I will fill it...
• How wide is my mouth open?

Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Matthew 20:32-34 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
• They could have asked for "help around the house", "a seeing eye dog", etc...But when you've been blind your entire life it takes a lot of boldness to ask for your sight.

Psalm 2:8 Ask me,and I will make the nations your inheritance,the ends of the earth your possession.

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Increasing in Favor

Keith Craft @ Lakewod Church
New Years Eve 2011/*New Years Day Service

*It's not just about family of origin, but family of choice.

Favor: divine assigned advantage!

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in FAVOR with God and man.

• Jesus was the Lord and he had to increase in FAVOR.

• That means I should and need to too!

*msg: Love and Loyalty kjv: Mercy and Truth

Proverbs 3:3-6 Let love and FAITHFULNESS never leave you;bind them around your neck,write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win FAVOR and a good namein the sight of God and man. Trust in the lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight.

1. Discover the secret.

• There is a secret to increasing in favor, you don't

Deuteronomy 29:29 The SECRET things belong to the lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Psalms 25:14 The SECRET of the Lord is with them that HONOR him; and he will shew them his covenant.

* Get Motivated Seminar

Enthusiasm: Overflowing with eager enjoyment or approval.

•This place was called a church before it was. It had been devalued and now it has been resurrected for God's glory.
* Inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of God.


2. Develop your mercy quotient: choose to see the best in others.
* The pathway of favor is found through the gateway of mercy.
* Extend a latter past a person's sin into the pit their sin got them in so they can climb their way out of it.
* Some people find fault as if there's a reward for it. -Zig Zigler

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

• Ignore the worse.

Genesis 39:1-6 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found FAVOR in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

• People are blessed because they are in your presence when you have favor, and you're okay with that!
* We give honor because we are honorable.
* Mercy empowers me to give honor.
*Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
*2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

• Mercy breeds honor and honor breed favor.

• God doesn't curse, we curse ourselves. Judgementalism breeds dishonor and dishonor breeds a curse.

*You bring on yourself a curse of disobedience


3. Deploy your greatness: Do more than you're asked to do.
* I can leave an imprint that no one else can.
* John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY BEYOND all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

•Favor is reserved for those who honor Him!

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm Pre

I Am A No-Lack Person

Lakewood!
Pastor Joel

Psalm 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,but those who seek the lord lack no good thing.

I am a successful person fighting off poverty. Abundance is my normal state!

I am a free person fighting off addiction. Freedom is my normal state!

I am a healthy person fighting off sickness! Healed is my normal state!

David & Goliath
1 Samuel 17:48 That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine.
*** David RAN TOWARD the problem and it made him king. Likewise I should run toward my giants.


1 Corinthians 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Phil 4:13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our LIGHT AFFLICTION, which is but for A MOMENT, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Exodus 3:22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any guests in her house for objects of silver and gold, for jewelry and extra clothes; you'll put them on your sons and daughters. Oh, you'll clean the Egyptians out!" 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
***Those children were the ones who made it to the promised land.

Deut 8:17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
***God gave me the ability to produce wealth!!! I don't have to wait for a blue light special!

-- Follow me on twitter @orinej

Career Outlook for Grads

Standing on the corner of Buffalo Speedway and 59, this young man represents a growing number of graduates desperate for work. Employment rates for new college graduates continue to fall sharply right along with starting salaries for those who can find work. More shockingly, only half of the jobs landed by these new graduates even require a college degree, reviving debates about whether higher education is worth the fuss. Still, adults continue to push children to gain education, "fall back" careers are scarce, and non-college educated individuals continue to thrive.

Growing up, adults urged me to complete school often recanting the phrase, "you don't want to end up flipping burgers at McDonald's". Unfortunately with a 9.1 unemployment rate, class of 2011 graduates may not even have McDonald's in their futures. I challenge current students to come up with a new game plan. After all, the west was not settled by men and women who had taken courses in "How to be a pioneer." 

My husband is one of those "pioneers" Through hard work and dedication he continues to excel in information technology with a leading company in his industry. He is a pioneer because he did not graduate college and then get a great career. Though he encourages young people to get an education, that was not his path. It was not until last year, over 10 years AFTER excelling in his career, that my husband earned his degree. He is not alone. There are many people with successful careers who did not go to college and ended up working in his/her CHOSEN career field.

Even when the job market proved tough, college graduates depended on teaching as a fall back career. Even teaching has become a hard job to catch. Kaisha Fields has worked diligently to secure a job teaching for the entire year; she attended orientation and faithfully volunteered only to receive the run-around from HISD. Even the once "fallback" career, teaching, proves a difficult feat of achievement. She is not alone. Others trodding the teaching path continue to meet the same roadblocks.

So class of 2011, this is the job market you have entered. Though it may seem bleak, remember you will get a job, even if it's flipping burgers, there are no guarantees, and maybe you can use something that you already had to get where you want to go.

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